You made the decision. After spending the summer listening to the neighbors across the street enjoy their new, inground pool, it’s time. You crunched the numbers with your wife, and you know you can make the budget work. Plus, you know an inground pool will push up your home value by a little more than five percent.
Nice! And now it’s time to do the research. You’ve got a lot of questions to answer before you get to the inground pool installation itself. What are the different inground pool types? Should it be a big pool or a small inground pool with a big deck? What shape? Maybe the most crucial question is, what material to go with?
Let’s take at all three materials – fiberglass, vinyl, and concrete. Read on to see the pros and cons of each material for inground pool installation in Texas.
1. Fiberglass Pools
On the plus side, because fiberglass pools are factory-built, it’s easier to consistently control construction quality. And because they are pre-built, installation is far faster. Ordering fiberglass pools gives plenty of options for added features like steps and seats.
Finally, algae growth – and maintenance – is kept to a minimum because of the hard, smooth finish. On the other side, you are limiting yourself to pre-determined designs, so don’t expect the perfect design for your space. And fiberglass pools are relatively more expensive. Due to trucking considerations, size is limited to a maximum of 16 feet in width. Finally, if the pool is damaged, repairs are not cheap.
2. Vinyl Pools
The biggest plus with vinyl pools is cost. They are the cheapest of the three. And your design can be as big, as wide, and as deep as you like. No limits. Maintenance is low since the smooth lining resists algae.
The cons of vinyl pools may offset the plusses for most people. First, liners typically last between five to nine years – and replacement isn’t cheap. Then there’s the risk of damage from sharp objects. Liners are not very thick, and repairs may be difficult or even impossible. Finally, vinyl pools are not a plus at re-sale time.
3. Concrete Pools
When you’re comparing the average cost of a pool, don’t discount concrete. In terms of ultimate design flexibility and durability, concrete leads the pack. A well-designed, traditional concrete pool with custom features is a plus in terms of home value.
On the negative side, concrete pools have the longest installation time. In addition, maintenance, due to the rougher surface, requires more attention. Occasional wall scrubbing and more chemicals are a given.
Inground Pool: Make the Choice
Now that you know the pros and cons of each inground pool material, you can start deciding which is right for you. Vinyl with its lower cost but shorter life? Fiberglass’s ease of installation and maintenance? Or Concrete where you can design your perfect pool with custom features?
No matter which you choose, your pool will be the centerpiece of a great summer of fun for the whole family – and the envy of the neighbors on the other side of the fence!